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England has dropped down world education rankings in science following the scrapping of primary school exams in the subject, new figures reveal.

A league table ranks England 15th out of 50 countries based on the science results of 10-year-old children. In 2007, the last time the study was published, England came seventh out of 36.

But in reading, English children are among the best in the world and in maths England remains in the top 10.

The Department for Education said the results justify Secretary of State Michael Gove’s schools reforms, which include a return to rigorous testing and the study of arithmetic, algebra and geometry.

Education minister Elizabeth Truss said the drop in science results coincides with the decision to scrap SATs in science for 11-year-olds — the last exams were held in 2009. Children are instead graded by teacher assessment.

Today’s results are from two league tables, the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study and the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study.

The literacy study shows that in reading England’s top performers are at the levels of the best 10-year-olds in the world.

England is now ranked 11th out of 45 countries for reading, compared with 14th out of 40 previously.

However, the report highlights there is still a high percentage of weak readers that is holding England back from greater improvement. Performance in maths is stable, and means England is ranked ninth out of 50.

In science, the performance of secondary school pupils was better than for primary pupils and is ranked ninth in the world. Ms Truss said: “The rise in performance in reading is encouraging but there is too long a tail of under-performance.

“The lack of progress in maths and the decline in science, linked to the removal of compulsory tests for all 11-year-olds, is a real concern.” She added that the results justify why the Government is pushing on with plans to bring in rigorous exams and focus on arithmetic, algebra and geometry.

Ms Truss added: “We must produce a workforce that is literate, and strong in maths and science, able to be successful in a highly competitive global jobs market, and attract the high-quality jobs that will secure the future of our economy. That is exactly what our reforms are designed to achieve.”

The Department for Education said they were not calling for SATs in science to be brought back.

But a source said there was a “link” between the fall in results and scrapping of the tests.